Getting into Public Speaking
20 comments
·December 10, 2025somethingsome
doomerhunter
I often tend to integrate talking passionately about a topic in my head with an imaginary interlocutor. While not directly being a rehearsal in itself, it really helps with developing ideas and chaining concepts - at least for me.
I guess everyone is different in regards to handling the pressure when talking in public, but I do agree that you can feel it, most of the time, when someone rehearsed too "scholarly".
ghaff
On the one hand, I tend to not do formal rehearsals a lot of the time. On the other, I also find that if I give a live talk for the second or third time, it often is better because I find some things that worked in my head don't work as well on stage.
All that said, an overly-rehearsed talk can come across as stilted/reading from a script.
Jnr
How to speak from Patrick Winston at MIT is my go to. A must watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unzc731iCUY
macintux
A collection of related resources: https://gist.github.com/macintux/5354837
captn3m0
Good advice. One of the things I suffer from is speaking too fast, and yet to find a good solution for it. I put a sticky note on my screen reminding me to slow down these days, but it only helps so much.
Another comprehensive guide for tech-speakers is https://speaking.io/ by Zach Holman.
rolandog
Do you think one's tendency to speak faster originates from listening to podcasts at 2.x+ speed?
probably_wrong
The problem with speaking fast predates 2x speed by decades. From what I've seen it's usually the result of not rehearsing beforehand - beginners tend to panic and speak fast as a result while experienced speakers overestimate how much information an audience can retain and/or how short a minute is. Experienced speakers can tune it in real time, though, and rehearsal time is expensive so they simply don't.
sgc
People have been speaking too fast in public since the beginning of public speaking. It's just nerves making us press forward too quickly, and sometimes people are worried it will be too boring if they speak slowly. I was taught to speak far slower than is comfortable - and it will come out just right.
ghaff
I've taken a few public speaking classes and I remember one made a point of remembering to pause.
I also remember a senior IBM exec who, during Q&A at analyst conferences, would make notes (or seemed to) which served a few purposes including just taking a few seconds to collect his thoughts.
R_D_Olivaw
You know, I think that might certainly have something to do with it, but I've also noticed that anytime I'm using tech (video call/voice call) the conversation is at a much faster pace.
It's as though the natural state of the machines and tech is so fast, that we're trying to keep the information transmission as dense as possible so we can end the call.
Side note, I was watching an interview with Cory Doctorow and because of the tv segment style, both he and the interviewer were BLASTING through their talking points.
I wonder how much of our speech is being affected by the "say as much as you can before commercial break" model.
ghaff
Which is something I have zero interest in doing. If it's a good/interesting podcast, it's not about getting fed information "efficiently" for me.
That said, I have recorded some podcasts with people where I felt I really needed to go into Audacity and have it automatically cut out a bunch of pauses because there were just too many of them.
I've also found that having both video and audio of yourself is a great way to uncover both visual and audio quirks.
captn3m0
Not for me. I listen at 1-1.25x, and not an avid listener. I just speak fast, especially in english
rednafi
It’s different for everyone. I love public speaking but tend not to over-rehearse. Also, I prefer smaller conferences and meetups than large sprawling ones.
drsim
I love public speaking, think I'm above average at it, and am aiming to do more of it. Has anyone here tried Toastmasters?
Went to my local group last week and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of speaking.
mnky9800n
I love to give talks but I find I only do them at science conferences where I’ve submitted things out as an invited speaker at universities. How do I find new places to give talks about my interests?
doomerhunter
Depends on your hobbies. I'm into cybsec, there's a ton of small events where you can either be on stage (so submit a proposal), but there is often what we call "rumps" which are usually unplanned 5 minutes talks about a subject. They're a great way to practice.
Besides that, i guess schools/student groups that seek professionals. Non-profits works as well, I did that when I was younger (advocacy).
lucidplot
if you don't fancy toastmasters, sign up for a beginner's improv class in your area.
I'm always surprised by the amount of advises in rehearsal.
I like to give public speaches, but I organize myself completely differently. I spend much time making Slides that are easy to follow and logically ordered, and in each I know that I can say a little more or a little less without disrupting the message. I know that I can count on 1 slide = 1 min. Unless lots of images.
I don't rehearse as I know that I prepared well my slides. Then during the talk I add more or less informations naturally depending on the time left and on the facial expressions of the audience. I usually finish exactly on time.
Usually I read my slides and think about what exactly to say only just before the talk.
I find this way more natural, and less scripted, and I usually get compliments on my presentation and naturalness. I think rehearsing removes much of the naturalness of a talk, unless that aspect is worked extensively, but that could sound a little too scripted for my taste.
One trick that I use often if I tend to forget some information that is important to say, is to put one word that trigger the information IN the slide, but in very light Grey, and in a natural place, like close to an image. So if I ever forget what to say, I have my landmarks in each slide to guide me.